Description: This beautifully hand coloured original antique map of Picardy Region of Northern France - centering on the city of Cambray, NW to Calais, South to Soissons and east to Charleville - by Jan Jansson was published in the 1638 Latin edition of Mercators Atlas.

Picardy is a historical territory and a former administrative region of France. Since 1 January 2016, it is part of the new regionNord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie. It is located in the northern part of France. From the 5th century the area was part of theFrankish Empire, and in the feudal period it encompassed the six countships ofBoulogne,Montreuil,Ponthieu,Amiénois,Vermandois, andLaonnois. According to the 843Treaty of Verdunthe region became part ofWest Francia, the laterKingdom of France. The name "Picardy" (which may have referred to a Frankish tribe ofpicardsor pike-bearers) was not used until the 12th or 13th century. During this time, the name applied to all lands where thePicardlanguage was spoken, which included all the territories from Paris to theNetherlands. In theLatin Quarterof Paris, people identified a "Picard Nation" (Nation Picarde) of students atSorbonne University, most of whom actually came fromFlanders. During theHundred Years' War, Picardy was the centre of theJacquerie peasant revolt in 1358. From 1419 onwards, the Picardy counties (Boulogne, Ponthieu, Amiens, Vermandois) were gradually acquired by theBurgundiandukePhilip the Good, confirmed by KingCharles VII of Franceat the 1435Congress of Arras. In 1477, KingLouis XI of Franceled an army and occupied key towns in Picardy.[6]By the end of 1477, Louis would control all of Picardy and most ofArtois. In the 16th century, thegovernment(military region) of Picardy was created. This became a new administrative region of France, separate from what was historically defined as Picardy. The new Picardy included theSommedépartement, the northern half of theAisnedépartement, and a small fringe in the north of theOisedépartement. In 1557, Picardy was invaded by Habsburg forces under the command ofEmmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy. After aseventeen-day siege,St. Quentinwould be ransackedwhileNoyonwould be burned by the Habsburg army. In the 17th century, an infectious disease similar toEnglish sweatoriginated from the region and spread across France. It was calledSuette des picardsorPicardy sweat. Sugar beet was introduced byNapoleon Iduring theNapoleonic Warsin the 19th century, in order to counter the United Kingdom, which had seized the sugar islands possessed by France in theCaribbean. The sugar industry has continued to play a prominent role in the economy of the region. One of the most significant historical events to occur in Picardy was the series of battles fought along theSommeduringWorld War I. From September 1914 to August 1918, four major battles, including theBattle of the Somme, were fought by British, French, and German forces in the fields of Northern Picardy.(Ref: Koeman; M&B; Tooley)